The Ultimate South Island Tour
13 Days of Adventure
Because New Zealand is about two thirds the size of California, there’s a delicate balance between seeing and experiencing as much of the country as you can and spending too much time in the trip vehicle. With that in mind, we specifically designed The Ultimate South Island Tour for active people looking to experience the best of New Zealand in 13 adventure filled days, while at the same time keeping the driving component to a minimum. We originally designed and sold a 12 day variation of this itinerary to National Geographic Expeditions and a 9 day version to MT Sobek, and from 2013 to 2019 we guided over 900 of their guests on this tried and tested itinerary. In 2027 we have improved the itinerary by adding a day and combining the best of past trips to create a 13 day itinerary that showcases some of New Zealand’s most iconic hiking trails amongst the country’s most dramatic scenery.
Past guests have loved this tour and told us that we have the balance of activities, drive times, accommodation and meals just right.
Trip Overview
Trip Duration: 13 days
Starts: Blenheim
Ends: Queenstown
Trip Rating: Moderate
Ages: 10-80+
Accommodation: Comfortable 4-star hotels and lodges for twelve nights.
Highlights include:
The trip begins in the renowned Marlborough wine country, famous for its excellent sauvignon blanc
Hike the Queen Charlotte Track, staying at a wilderness lodge
Sea kayak in a Marine Reserve and along golden sand beaches in Abel Tasman National Park
Take an exhilarating rafting trip through the granite gorges of the Buller River
Stay at a resort with geothermal hot pools
Hike in Paparoa National Park among impressive limestone formations
Two nights staying at the 5 star Legacy Te Waonui Hotel in Franz Josef Glacier in Westland National park allows the opportunity to spend a full day exploring the area with an optional heli hike high up on the glacier and/or a scenic heli flight over the glaciers
Fly by helicopter into the remote Siberia Valley in Mt Aspiring National Park. Hike for 2 to 3 hours in total wilderness below snowcapped peaks before boarding a jetboat for a thrilling ride down river out of the wilderness
Two nights in the lakeside township of Wanaka, with a scenic hike in the surrounding mountains
Hike a section of the Keplar Track in Fiordland National Park
Two nights in the lakeside township of Te Anau
Visit Fiordland National Park and take a scenic boat ride in Milford Sound, a majestical fjord where towering mountains rise skyward from the sea. Then hike a section of the famous Routeburn Track
Finish in Queenstown: “the adventure capital of the world,” with the option to spend a few extra days there, or extend your trip and join an exclusive guided hike on the Milford, Routeburn, or Hollyford Tracks
Dates & Prices
2027 Departure Dates
January 8 to 20, 2027: sold out
January 22 to February 3, 2027: sold out
February 12 to 24, 2027: contact us to join another group holding this date
February 26 to March 10, 2027: 16 spaces available / available for private charter
2028 Departure Dates
January 15 to 27, 2028: 16 spaces available
February 1 to 13, 2028: being held by a group. Contact us for availability
February 17 to 29, 2028: 16 spaces available
February 29 to March 12, 2028: being held by a group. Contact us for availability
March 16 to 18, 2028: 16 spaces available
Payments & Cancellations
Please see our Payments and Cancellations page for details.
2027 Price
NZD 14,950 Double Occupancy
NZD 2,800 Single Occupancy Supplement
What To Expect
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Activities
Hiking 3-10 km’s (2-6 miles) on hiking days, kayaking 3 to 4 hours, whitewater rafting on Class III-IV rapids, take a scenic helicopter and jet boat ride, and take a boat tour in Milford Sound.
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Lodging
Comfortable, contemporary, and amenity-laden hotels, mostly situated within spectacular natural settings. Minimum of 4 star rating.
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Climate
Temperatures can vary between 10C to 32C (50F to 90F) during the day and can include sunshine, rain, and even snow at higher altitudes.
Optional add-ons on day 7 in Franz Josef Glacier:
i) Heli hike
ii) Scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
Both activities are weather dependent on the day, so are not included in the tour price as they can not be guaranteed to proceed.
Optional post trip add-ons from Te Anau on day 13
Join an exclusive multi-day guided hike on:
i) the Milford Track (5 days, 4 nights): hike 54 km/33.5 miles
ii) the Routeburn track (3 days, 2 nights): hike 32km/20.1 miles
iii) the Hollyford Track (3 days, 2 nights): hike 39.5 km/ 24.5 miles. Includes a wilderness jetboat ride and scenic heli-flight out to Milford Sound